In Swahili, the word safari means journey and is mainly aimed at hunting and exploring. Nowadays, however, the word safari is generally associated with adventure and the discovery of habitats and wildlife of the African land. And many people have experienced how truly remarkable an experience an African Safari can be in recent years.
An African safari can be undertaken in various ways, by driving throughout the African wildland or through fly-in safaris.
There are four basic types of safari through Africa:
-permanent tented safaris
-mobile safaris
-lodge safaris
-theme-based safaris, such as canoing, elephant-back, horseback or honeymoon safaris
An African safari through Southern and Eastern Africa usually takes between 10 and twenty days.
There are a few things you should do to make sure your African safari is not only exciting, but also safe. While you are planning an African safari tour, it is highly recommended to choose a well-trained an experienced safari guide, or a local tour operator who is very familiar with local conditions and etiquette. You should also make sure all the essential things for the safari are included in the package, such as accommodation, meals, ground transportation, excursion, guide or driver service and transfers.
Some of the most popular African safari destinations are Okavango Delta, Cape Town and Winelands, Kruger Park and Sabi-Sands, Chobe Park, Namib Desert, Victoria Falls, Etosha Park, Mount Kenya, Bazaruto Archipelago, Ngorongoro Crate, Forest Gorilla Treks and Kilimanjaro Mountains. African weather conditions are generally good throughout the whole year, but autumn and winter are the best seasons for safaris.
You can undertake an African safari in various ways, such as on horseback or on the back of an elephant; walking, flying, ballooning or driving through the African land. Either way you choose to do it, you will have a truly memorable experience. Once again though, it is essential to choose a tour operator with a lot of experience, strong knowledge of the local language and great contacts in Africa.
Dean Caporella is a professional Journalist and Sportscaster who takes an interest in a wide variety of subjects. "You know," says Dean. "Africa is such an amazing place. Sure it has its troublespots but it's one place in the world people would love to visit. At http://www.african-safaris-site.com we present lots of information on African safaris plus article views from those who have visited in the past."